Across the nation during the month of October, thousands of parents, their friends and families, health care professionals, clergy, and others affected by the death of a child will participate in events to honor the memories of little ones who left too soon.
Dedicated to providing support to families touched by the loss of a newborn or pregnancy, Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital will host its Perinatal Bereavement Program’s Annual ‘Walk to Remember’ on Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m. – noon.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for every 1,000 babies that are born in the United States each year, six die during their first year. Most of these babies die because they are born with a serious birth defect, born too small and too early, victims of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), affected by maternal complications of pregnancy, or victims of injuries. Unlike the terms “widow” and “orphan,” no one word describes a woman or man who has lost a child.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. In 2006, the U.S. Congress supported a proposal to create one day of remembrance in the middle of the month because, as stated in their resolution, “each year, approximately one million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby.”
WHEN: Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m. – noon
WHERE: Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, 1st Floor CES Room, followed by a walk around the pond
HOW: The event is open to the public; however, attendees are asked to call 713-222-CARE to RSVP for planning purposes. Please let us know the name of the baby to honor.